Float tubing with a flasher

[Bryce]

Hey guys, I am waiting for cold weather and ice season, but considering that seems like it may be a while in Nebraska, I think I am going to break the float tube back out again. I bought a Humminbird Ice 35 flasher for ice fishing that I want to try to use on my float tube for vertical jigging. Has anyone else done this? Anyone have any tips or suggestions? 

[Rob Hilton]

Hi Bryce... My Garmin Echo 550C Fish Finder has a flasher feature on it... and yes it's been successful.... I'm not sure if the flasher feature is as accurate as a Dedicated Flasher would be... but it works... I like to switch between the two... If I see fish on the depth finder... I'll switch to the Flasher to see how it looks from that perspective. Quite cool...  Good Luck.

[dick tabbert]

Its all new to me Bryce but interesting so I'll be monitoring your info as I also have to set my tube up also.

[Tony Livingston]

I use my flasher on a boat once in awhile. The only suggestion I would have concerns the transducer... Most dedicated ice units have the trans. on a float, that you simply drop into the hole. But when used in open water, I find that they tend to drift everywhere, including right up against the boat where you can't access it very well.

Since I'm using a 4.5' ultralight rod, I want the transducer out away from me, where I can jig down beside it....just like I do on the ice. AND, I need it to stay there, relative to my position. I'm experimenting with a piece of 3/4" pvc pipe, to which I have zip tied the transducer cable. When I want to fish an area, I swing the pipe over the side and wedge the free end tight against a grab handle on the boat. Now the transducer stays at the perfect reach for my rod, and it drifts with me, rather than doing it's own thing. Works pretty well.

[Leo Nguyen]

Hard core tuber! Like Rob said, most fishfinders have built in flasher. Mine is a Humminbird 718. The flasher function is grayscale, but works wonderfully. Mount it below the float tube, and you're golden. Mine is mounted directly below my float tube seat. See my mod for detail:

Fish Cat 4 LCS transducer mount

[Bryce]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Great tips. My main concern is mounting of my flasher to my float tube. A member on another board removes his head unit from the flasher and puts that and the battery in the float tube pocket and uses it out of the pocket.

[Tony Livingston]

I think that would be fine. The carrying case is just for ease of conveyance while moving on the ice...not needed in your application.